In a move with immediate implications for cross-border commuters and freight operators, the French Interior Ministry on 3 November 2025 prolonged internal Schengen-area border controls for another six months, citing persistent terrorism threats and irregular-migration pressures. Checks will now run until 30 April 2026 at all land, sea and air entry points between France and its neighbours—including Italy.
Since May 2024, travellers have faced random ID inspections on the Ventimiglia-Menton rail line, at Mont Blanc and Fréjus road tunnels, and on Riviera ferry routes. Logistics companies report average wait times of 30–45 minutes for trucks at the Ventimiglia crossing—costing up to €250 per round-trip in driver overtime and fuel. The French government says it will "seek to minimise disruption," but Italian haulage association Conftrasporto warns that tighter controls could erode just-in-time supply chains serving Piedmont’s automotive cluster.
![France Extends Internal Schengen Border Checks With Italy Until April 2026]()
For business travellers, the decision means renewed scrutiny of passports, residence cards and posted-worker A1 certificates. Italian firms sending staff to French sites should brief employees on possible delays and ensure that corporate car-hire agreements include extra mileage allowances. Airlines operating Milan-Paris shuttles report no schedule changes but advise arriving at airports at least 30 minutes earlier for potential document checks at Schengen gates.
Diplomatically, Rome expressed "regret" and requested a joint evaluation mechanism to balance security with freedom of movement. The European Commission is expected to review all long-running internal-border derogations at the Justice and Home Affairs Council in December, but observers note that successive extensions since 2015 set a precedent for continued flexibility.
Companies with high cross-border traffic should map alternative freight corridors—such as the Brenner route via Austria—and budget for contingency warehousing. Mobility managers may also explore remote-work options for employees previously commuting daily across the frontier.
Since May 2024, travellers have faced random ID inspections on the Ventimiglia-Menton rail line, at Mont Blanc and Fréjus road tunnels, and on Riviera ferry routes. Logistics companies report average wait times of 30–45 minutes for trucks at the Ventimiglia crossing—costing up to €250 per round-trip in driver overtime and fuel. The French government says it will "seek to minimise disruption," but Italian haulage association Conftrasporto warns that tighter controls could erode just-in-time supply chains serving Piedmont’s automotive cluster.
For business travellers, the decision means renewed scrutiny of passports, residence cards and posted-worker A1 certificates. Italian firms sending staff to French sites should brief employees on possible delays and ensure that corporate car-hire agreements include extra mileage allowances. Airlines operating Milan-Paris shuttles report no schedule changes but advise arriving at airports at least 30 minutes earlier for potential document checks at Schengen gates.
Diplomatically, Rome expressed "regret" and requested a joint evaluation mechanism to balance security with freedom of movement. The European Commission is expected to review all long-running internal-border derogations at the Justice and Home Affairs Council in December, but observers note that successive extensions since 2015 set a precedent for continued flexibility.
Companies with high cross-border traffic should map alternative freight corridors—such as the Brenner route via Austria—and budget for contingency warehousing. Mobility managers may also explore remote-work options for employees previously commuting daily across the frontier.
